How should I go about GMAT and B-School applications

Question

Hello All,

I have joined this forum lately and am loving it. 
About me:
I am 27 and represent the biggest pool of IT Engineers. My total experience is 4.4.
I have started preparing for GMAT this month and planning to take my first exam in next year February. And I have started my profile building activities ( just started).
My aim is to get into an European or an Asian school. I don't want to spend a lot of money for my education. I am thinking about spending around 30L INR ( including all expenditure). So that means if I want a top school to get into, I need a good scholarship. If I apply after Feb'17, I will be applying in the 3rd round where the chance of getting a scholarship is very poor; (if I am not wrong). Or is my budget is realistic?

So, I wanted an expert's advice on how should I go about it. Thanks in advance.
Please let me know if any other information is required.

Regards,
Rakesh

Sent from my Redmi Note 4 using  GMAT Club Forum mobile app

Admissionado · Answer

\

Rakesh,

So I think before you rush ahead and apply you should take it slow and do your due diligence. A few things:
1. Round 3 is not possible for your profile. There are only a very few spaces left, and being an Indian/Tech/Male you will be at a severe disadvantage.
2. For the money, you cannot count on scholarships. Decide for yourself what is a reasonable amount to spend on B-school, but if you bank on getting a scholarship you might be disappointed.
3. Spend 3-6 months preparing for your GMAT. It is the KEY
4. since you won't apply till next year and since applications are only released in July this gives you a good 8 months to do your research, attend events and network. I would suggest getting started already

I hope these notes help!
And if you have any other thoughts do not hesitate.

Best,

ARINGO · Answer

Hi Rakesh, I suggest you take a look here: https://aringo.com/ideal-timeline-for-mba-application/, just to put things in order and get a clue on when you should perform each step of the admission process. If budget is a main consideration for you, I also suggest you use our online cost calculator to help you plan your expenses: https://aringo.com/mba-cost-calculator/ Good luck and we are here for you in case you require any assistance!

ss3617 · Answer

Hey,

I am in more or less the same scenario as you. I am deferring my applications to next year. I am taking the GMAT in February as well. Most of top EU schools have rolling admission and some have their courses starting from January. Check this  link . If your expectations meets one of these schools, you can think of applying to these as well.

VeritasPrepDozie · Answer

Don't waste your time applying in R3, it will be too tough and you will end up rushing too much to get in a strong application since it seem you have not taken the GMAT yet? The GMAT will be really important for you coming from your competitive pool so take your time and apply next year and use all of that time to start constructing a profile that positions you in the best light for admissions. It is really hard to rely on scholarships as the basis for your decisions when applying from your background. We all want scholarships but just try and reasonable with your expectations here. Good luck!

How should I go about GMAT and B-School applications

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards